1.22.23 Prayer of Church & Community, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Pasadena, CA

The turn of a page,

The twist of an age.

Time runs on.

And the day is won.

O LORD our God.

Good is your name.

And faithful you are.

In love the same.

We cannot be but who we are.

Along the road ever so far.

You are the faithful companion.

In canyons dark and shining mountain.

With gates of gold.

Laughter never old.

Hope and light.

Shining bright.

Stir our hearts this day dear God.

Bring to life our weary sod.

Lift us to our feet, we pray.

To dance and sing and ever sway.

For the sake of love and all the folk.

We claim the story of Christ our hope.

The light of the world.

A peace unfurled.

Bless us, we pray, to stay the way.

In faith, and hope, and never betray.

The truth, the life, that belongs to all.

And grows large and never grows small.

For our loved ones we offer up our hearts.

That life in all of its fits and starts.

Will be good and light.

And faithfully right.

And for our blighted and struggling world.

We lift our hearts and reach for a word.

To sing a song of praise and peace.

For all the children, that war may cease.

All of this, in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ who taught us to pray, saying:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen. 

6.5.22 Prayers of Church & Community, Westminster Presbyterian Church PasadenaL

LORD God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, we give thanks for the gift of Christ, and the

work of the Holy Spirit … your goodness at work all around the world … in time and in space; in the bright avenues of life, and in the shadowy corners and darkened alleys of disappointment and sorrow … you are present, with grace, mercy, and peace … no place beyond your reach, no life beyond your touch, no sin greater than your forgiveness, no sorrow too vast for your kindness … no time or place surpassing your all-surpassing love.

Our world, dear God, has trouble aplenty … give us the strength, we pray, to live in this world, honestly, creatively, patiently, to yet see the good that remains: the cup of blessing and our daily bread - friendship and faith, folks who care … the love that remains.

Strengthen those who uphold the best and the noblest of the human story. 

Help us, we pray, to carry the cross of awareness, the cross of care and concern, the cross of love … yet give us rest, O God - when we’re tired, troubled, and tested … when we cry out and weep … you stand by us when we can no longer walk; you lay down with us when we cannot rise.

This day, O God, we pray especially for the children of Ukraine - little hearts and tender minds, impacted by unimaginable savagery … the sounds and smells of war - scarring their souls. Be merciful to the little ones, O LORD, for they are so utterly vulnerable to the sadness and misery of war.

Bless our church, we pray, that we might know the love of Christ all the more, that our church would remain a safe and welcoming place, a sanctuary of healing and hope … ready for a new day, a new era of mission, a new chapter to be written.

In the name of our LORD Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray, saying:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen. 

Wars of Adventure

Let's tell the truth here ...
The loss of life
Occasioned by our Wars of
Adventure.

Have been pretty small.
I mean, tiny.
Compared to the
Great War.

World War 2, Korea or
Vietnam.
Small loses.
Compared.

But it's the profits, you see.
That keep the machine grinding
Away.
On a small group.

Of women and men and
Families.
Who join for duty.
Or hope for a better life.

Profits.
By the fistful.
Coursing through the government
Pipeline.

From our pockets.
To the reservoirs
of wealth.
To pay for their dreams.

Let's Not Say Anything ...

Let's not say anything about race - we don't want to offend Uncle Buck and Aunt Jenny who live in Central Pennsylvania.

Let's not say anything about war - we don't want to offend our neighbors who have a daughter in the military, serving in Afghanistan.

Let's not say anything about the social safety net - we don't want to appear to be bleeding-heart liberals.

Let's not say anything about the hyper-wealthy - we have family members who love the prosperity gospel.

Let's not say anything about gun violence - we have friends who own guns.

Let's not say anything about poverty - we don't want to sound soft on the poor.

Let's not say anything about public education - our neighbors send their children to a charter school.

Let's not say anything about Universal Health Care - we have relatives who are devoted to the free-market system and hate all things "socialized."

So, let's just talk about Jesus.

Victory - What an Odd Word

Just to say a few words ... but what are words?

Strange things, to be sure.

An amalgam of letters, and what are they, but symbols from

Some ancient past.

When folks told stories by campfire.

And in time,

On cave walls, or

Parchment, or 

Vellum,

To become a scroll, a book, a story from the shelf, a

Tall tale of giant sea monsters and

bright stars ... to make children shudder with

Delight ... or shriek with laughter, or

Curl up and go to sleep,

Dreaming of ancient heroes and warriors,

And high waterfalls and wintry mountains,

And ...

Just to say a few words ... but what are words?

In my time, they launch a ship into the sea, and the ship goes off to 

War ... and women and men fight valiantly, for dimly known

Causes ... but for the one at their side. And too many die

For the sake of conquest or victory, and talk about strange word?

What does victory mean?

When standing in a pool of blood?

With death all around?

In the midst of our constant, unyielding, mortality?

Is it immortality that we desire?

In the death of others, we might add more time to our failing candle?

Is it power that delights us?

Our testosterone-driven stories?

Victory! What an odd word!

May 22, 2011 - Pastor's Prayer

Calvary Presbyterian Church, Hawthorne, CA

Great God Almighty,

Creator of the Heavens and the Earth,

You have been our dwelling place throughout the ages.

Before the world was cast by your word, your love for us was already established … your grace already at work …

From everlasting to everlasting, you are God.

Your Word anchors the universe.

Your light shines in deepest space and in the tiniest of creatures.

You number the hairs of our head.

A sparrow falling to the ground catches your attention.

You are at work in all things.

In all things for good.

It is right and good, O God, for us to be here today.

To hear the words of Jesus.

To think and pray.

To sing and celebrate.

To enlarge our understanding.

To know you better.

To love you all the more.

We pray, O God, for our world.

We pray for the leaders of the nations.

For parliaments and legislatures and judges.

We pray for peace.

We pray for your blessing on women and men of good faith.

Those who dare to see a new world, and strive for it.

Those who refuse to believe the gospels of violence and power and nationalism.

And believe, instead, in the Prince of Peace, and walk with him on the pathways of humility, kindness and justice.

We pray for President Obama and his family.

We pray for governor Brown and for mayor Guidi.

We pray for all those who take up the burdens of government.

And we pray for the citizens of America.

Deliver our nation, we pray, from the sins of nationalism and pride.

Deliver us from the sins of greed and wealth.

Deliver us from the sins that divide one against another.

Deliver us from the sins that impoverish many and enrich the few.

Deliver us from the sins that shut minds and harden hearts.

Bless Calvary Presbyterian Church, we pray.

Bless us, that we might be a blessing to our neighborhood, our community, our world.

Bless us, that we might have the light of Christ in our hearts and minds.

Bless us, that we might be the salt of the earth, a joyful witness to your work and your wisdom.

Bless us, we pray, that we might do your will on earth as it is in heaven.

Watch over us, we pray, in the remains of the day.

Breathe into us anew the Holy Spirit.

Use us, we pray.

And send us forth from this place with a fresh sense of hope, because you are at work in all things, in all things for good.

And to you, O God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, all praise, honor and glory.

In the name of our LORD Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray, saying, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven …